One weekend in San Diego

After work on Friday, October 30th Tania and i hopped on a plane bound for San Diego. It is my hometown, an area i’ve spent a considerable percentage of my life . For Tania, it was a rare visit to where she has some relatives, a place where we went early in our marriage.

We spent a day exploring the city, and the next at a football game. Saturday found us in Balboa Park, in the heart of what i always thought of as ‘San Diego’.

Balboa Park

It is home to numerous museums, attractions, and a world renowned Zoo. As we made our way around this urban wonderland, we came across a museum unlike any other i had seen, the Museum of Photographic Arts;

Museum of Photographic Arts

A tour of this museum revealed an exhibit of the photography of grade school kids – astounding! These kids were given point and shoot cameras and told to ‘make something interesting’ and they did! There were panoramas, displays of depth of field, and captures that were truly art. We left envious,wondering if we’d ever approach the skill of preteen picture takers. With that thought we left Balboa, and headed for the beach.

San Diego has some of the best ocean front property in the world. As we were making our way towards it, we decided to stop and have a nice lunch. We had no idea how nice until the bill came later . . .In La Jolla, my wife whipped into a free parking space. It was jarring, and i asked her “What are you doing?” in loving and polite terms, of course. “I found a parking spot!” she answered triumphantly, as though that was the only excuse she needed to whiplash me. Turns out it was the best use of an unplanned stop EVER. When i asked what we were going to do from there, she answered “I don’t know” and i had looked over my shoulder.

Across the street was, nestled between to buildings and looking like a late addition, was Cafe Lavande. Being the only likely eatery within parking spot distance, we decided to try it. Turns out it was a country French style café  with an imported French waiter and cook. i had the lamb skewers, Tania tried the shrimp ravioli in a pumpkin reduction and for desert, we split a Creme Brulee . . .

Creme Brulee

Thus fortified, we headed south towards the Cove. A beautiful area, and if you are nice i will share pictures of this jewel later. We had wanted to see the only National Monument in the area, Cabrillo. It is on Point Loma, where they used to have a lighthouse.

Old Point Loma Lighthouse

Exploring the point, we were disappointed to learn that access to the tidepools were closed before we could get there. we made our way north, to Mission Beach.

to be continued . . .